Chapter Six

Chapter Six.

 

 

It is uncomfortably warm in the kitchen. The cook’s face is flushed red from the heat of the fire crackling in the large oven. He is not overly tall, but he has uncommonly broad shoulders, a wide jaw and a thick neck. His long, stringy hair is plastered to his sweaty face.  He reminds Cabin Boy of a strong mountain pony.

“Cookie,” Cabin Boy says - for that is what the crew call the man - “have you seen Annie’s Undies? They’re missing.”

Cookie frowns. “Do I look like I’d fit into women’s underwear, lad?”

Cabin Boy quickly shakes his head. “I thought maybe you’d seen them, is all,” he says.

“And why would ye think that?”

“Missy said that you may have washed them.”

“Lad, I only boil the washing. The powder monkeys sort them after that. Ye may want to speak to them.” The powder monkeys are what the crew call the pair of older boys that run the gunpowder between the cannons when they are being loaded. The two are brothers, so alike that you cannot tell them apart.

“Remember, lad,” Cookie says, “when ye talk to the powder monkeys, always speak to Rob, because Riddles will always lie, but Rob will give ye a straight answer every time.”

“But I can’t tell Rob from Riddles. They’re the same to me.”

“It’s simple, lad. The one that lies to you is Riddles.”

“Where can I find them?”

“They’ll be swabbing the forecastle. That’s their wages for smart-mouthing the first mate. But before ye run off, ye can peel this here pile of potatoes.”